BJP leaders meet slain soldier's family

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Last Updated: Mon, Jan 14, 2013 09:40 hrs

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including party president Nitin Gadkari, met family members of slain Indian soldier Lance Naik Hemraj Singh, who are on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the government to bring back his severed head, in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district on Monday.

Hemraj´s mother Meena Devi and wife Dharamwati Devi earlier said they would not be convinced that the jawan was dead unless they saw his head.

Speaking to reporters, Gadkari said: "Pakistan government´s response on the matter is unfortunate. They should apologise."

Slamming the Indian government on the issue, Gadkari said: "India should take a strong stance in connection to the matter. It should raise the issue of killing of Indian soldiers to international forums."

"The entire nation is shocked and disturbed today...PM should not keep quiet on the issue," he said.

Gadkari said: "The Government should put pressure on Pakistan and the BJP will raise this issue in and outside the Parliament."

Army Chief General Bikram Singh might meet slain Indian soldier Hemraj´s family members, media reports said on Monday.

General Singh on Monday assured that Hemraj´s family of all possible help.

"I want to convey condolences to the families...We will make sure they are given all possible help. We will give them all that is due, and everything they are entitled to," he told media.

Calling the beheading of the Indian soldier by Pakistan as unacceptable, General Singh said: "We got to retaliate to provocation to firing in a measured manner and for effects."

"We will uphold the ceasefire as long as the adversary upholds it. When we are fired at and provoked we shall respond immediately," he said.

He said in the face of provocation Indian Army should be aggressive and offensive.

He said the Indian response so far has been measured under extreme provocation.

Hemraj´s family earlier said they would end the fast if General Singh visits them and assured them of bring back the martyred soldier´s severed head.

Ties between the two nuclear armed neighbours deteriorated last week over border firing and killing of two Indian soldiers, including the beheading of one of the martyrs by Pakistani troops.

The mutilated bodies of Hemraj and his colleague, Sudhakar Singh, who were were found in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on January 8. The incident sparked a diplomatic furore.